Influence of unsupported classical exercise movements on the technical skill level of 13–14-year-old cheerleading athletes

The article examines the issue of technical skill development in 13–14-year-old cheerleading athletes during the execution of basic competitive program elements that require unsupported movement, and proposes its improvement through the application of classical exercise in the training process. Classical exercise is an effective means of preparing cheerleading athletes, incorporating various jump-based dance combinations of small, medium, and large complexity. Mastery of these elements requires a high level of coordination abilities, speed-strength development, and precise postural control in unsupported movement. Insufficient use of classical exercise in the preparation of athletes competing in the “Dance” category negatively affects their level of choreographic training. This, in turn, impacts the performance quality of competitive routines, where unsupported movement is a dominant structural component—defining the relevance of the present study. Purpose: To experimentally substantiate the influence of unsupported classical exercise movements on the technical skill level of 13–14-year-old cheerleading athletes. Methods: the study involved 16 female cheerleading athletes aged 13–14 competing in the “Dance” category. Participants were divided into a control group (n = 8) and an experimental group (n = 8). Results: the pedagogical experiment demonstrated a positive effect of learning jump-based classical exercise elements in the experimental group, improving the execution quality of the basic elements of the competitive program and enhancing the athletes’ overall technical skill level. Comparative analysis of statistical indicators confirmed the beneficial influence of unsupported classical exercise movements within the training process, as evidenced by the superior results of the experimental group at the final stage of the study.